Posada Nena

The town square in Santa Ana is just a few blocks away, with plenty of life around it, and the hotel sits in an urban neighborhood instead of a commercial area. We had a great stay here. The courtyard felt like a quiet, dreamy oasis and was beautifully maintained. Our room was comfortable, and the kids were thrilled with the bunk beds and balcony hammock. The staff were warm and helpful, and breakfast was awesome. We’ll definitely come back when we’re in the San Jose area.

I picked this hotel because I could walk to the UWC Costa Rica Campus, so I didn't need a cab. It's a nice little place, with a clean, pleasant room and friendly people. The garden behind the cafeteria is really lovely.

The breakfast was delicious and gave us a good start to the day. We also had a very helpful conversation at reception with a woman who spoke fluent English, which was useful since our Spanish is only at a basic, intermediate level. They even helped us arrange an e-SIM beforehand, and I appreciated that. The stay itself was disappointing. Our second-floor room was noisy from the road, and sunlight warming the wall made it hot enough that we needed the air conditioning from 08:00. The garden was pleasant, but much smaller than the “wonderful garden” description suggested. We seemed to be the only guests, yet no one asked whether we wanted a different room. They did have a baby bed, which we appreciated, but carrying everything upstairs and then being unable to sleep after a 12h flight made for a rough arrival. After seeing more of Costa Rica, I found the nights here more disappointing than memorable. The room, location, small garden, and the house's walls, insulation, and windows all fell short for us. We won't stay here on our way back to the airport.

The worst part of my week-long stay was the air conditioning. It wasn't working properly, and getting it dealt with meant moving to yet another room. I also noticed how much attention went to details that didn't improve comfort or cleanliness, like tissues and towels folded into shapes. The bathroom needed that same close attention for cleanliness. It felt like guest management had its priorities in the wrong order.